After following this 20 month old leopard for much of the morning she settled in a tree for a nap during the 100+F midday sun. After our lunch and siesta at around 3:45pm we were going to look for other critters when we got the call she was looking with some interest at some kudus. So, change of plans...we headed back to the tree we had left her at (the one with the snake) and after a minute or so she alighted from the tree (unfortunately on the wrong side to get those shots) and stealthily moved into the thick brush. Some impala had wandered into the area and apparently she was more interested in these antelope which are much smaller but still formidable for a young leopard. We waited and then out of the corner of my eye I saw here lunge for a impala...GOT 'EM! Our driver gunned the engine and we got our front row seat for the main event.
You gotta love a leopard that takes a full grown male impala and does it in the golden hour!
Please take a look at the videos...a few are under 20 seconds but one goes on for 10 minutes and is unedited. If you are upset by images of animal predation please do not view but for the record, there is no gore. Death occurs by asphyxiation and by compressing the carotid arteries...it is relatively quick and silent.
Eric

Those are for the Leopard! and those are for you Eric. Friggen fantastic - man, you got some sharp eyes there. I'll wait right here to see images of her taking it up a tree. Now I'm gonna go back and relish the details and techs and videos.

Okay, I got a little excited there and posted twice - Leopards do that to me - just never on the internet before. Since I don't know how to delete it...a few additional comments: you nailed the exposure on these, especially the first one. A blown sky and yet the eyes are so clear and sharp, obviously you and the 1DX metered this to perfection. Was this your wife doing running the video? congrats to whomever. This young cat is sure full of confidence.

Jim

RobAmyRegistered: Aug 15, 2004Total Posts: 9238Country: United States

Wow, good stuff. A pleasure to view. I felt like I was there

Rob TillyerRegistered: Nov 17, 2007Total Posts: 14011Country: Canada

Amazing stuff Eric videos and all. That first is wonderful.

Rob

marklanktonRegistered: May 23, 2008Total Posts: 2921Country: United States

What a story, and great photos to go along with it. What an amazing thing to watch!
Mark